Check writer



Nov. 19, 1935'. E, E, pHlNNEY CHECK WRITER Filed May l0, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Eiga# E'Pflimy Nov. 19, 1935. E. E PHlNNEY 2,021,327

CHECK WRITER Filed May 10, 1934 7' SheetSmSheet 2 INVENTR JLW-@TTQRNEY Nov. 19, 1.5535. E. E. PHINNEY CHECK WRITER Filed May l0, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR l @Il s. S

E. E. PHINNEY CHECK WRITER Nov. 19, 1935.

Filed May 10, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet- 4 INVENOR /YElZboney ATTORNEY Nov. 19, 1935. E E. PHINNEY CHECK WRITER Filed May 10, 1934 7V sheets-sheet 5 fl-m "fQg-Fhfmwy ATTO'RNEY Nov. 19, 1935. E, E, PHINNEY 2,021,327

CHECK WRITER Filed May l0, 1934 A7 Sheets-Sheet JWM/7 INVENTOR Nov. 19, 1935. E. E. PHINNEY 2,021,327

` CHECK' WRITER v Filed May 10. 1934 7 sheets-shewb 7 INVENTOR I i Eiga hallh -p r) e y Patented Nov. 19, 1935 l 2,021,327

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,021,321 cnncx WRITER.

Edgar Ellsworth Phinney, West Orange, N. J.,y assignor to Defiance Manufacturing Corporation, Orange, N. J., scorporation of New York Application May 10, 1934, Serial No. 724,893

Claims. (Cl. 101-93) 'I'he inventionhas relation to checkwriters, one segments I6 of the levers 8, so that the return feature of the invention providing improved movement of the frame carrying the dogs 1 in means whereby the insertion of a check to be returning the levers 9 to normal position, will printed will control the operation of the maregister the set values in the accumulatore I3.

5 chine. According to another feature of the in` At the conclusion of a series of operations the 5 vention control devices are adapted to provide I accumulators I5 may be cleared and the totals for the convenient operation of the machine in accumulated thereon printed on the record tape, conjunction with an accumulating and listing in well known manner. mechanism which may also, be separately oper- DuringA the setting of the levers 3, the values lo ated. set in the keys I2 will also be transferred to type 1d 'I'he invention consists in the novel construcwheels I8 (Fig. 3) in the following manner: tion and combination of parts as set forth in the A shaft I9 is reciprocated synchronously with appended claims. the accumulator unit shaft 6, .by means of a bell In the accompanying drawings illustrating the crank lever 32, connected with shaft 6 by a link invention: 30 and with shaft I9 by a link 3i, lever 32 being 15l Fig. 1 isa right side elevation of the machine connected with a source of power through push with the accumulator and lister partly broken rod 34, as hereinafter set forth. am, Clockwise movement imparted to shaft Il Fig. 2 is adetail section through the accumu- (Figs. 1 and 3) will, through cam 20 and lever 2l,

2u lating and listing unit, showing the value setting move a series of dogs 22, engaging racks 23, so m' means; :i that said racks are free to be moved rearwardly Fig. 3 is a similar view-showing the means for by their springs 24. The rear ends of racks 23 setting the check printing type, etc. are provided each with a series of graduated stop 'Fig. i is a right side elevation of the accumufaces 25, adapted to contact with extensions 25 itsl -lating and listing unit, with the casing broken of the type bars I4. 'I'he cam 20 provides for a away, t slight e dwell before the rearward movement of -1 Fig. 5 is a plan view of the platen, check feed racks 23 is started, this dwell giving the upward and motor unit. movement of type bars I4 a slight lead, whereby Fig. 6 is a sectiontaken on line.` 6 6, of Fig. 5. the contacting portions of the extensions 28, be- Fig. 7 is a section taken on linel-l, of Fig. 5. ing raised with the type bars, are b ought suc- 30 Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 3 8, of Fig- 5. cessively into their different digital value posi- Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram of the motor and tions, and the racks 23 are prevented from con- 'solenoid circuits. tact with the extensions 26 until the type bars The machine may be considered as consisting have come to rest in their selected positions. of three units, best seen in Fig. 1, these compris- The graduated faces 25 provide for the adjust- 85 ing an accumulating and listing unit I, attached ment of racks 23 in accordance with the set posiat 2 to a type wheel unit 3, said type wheel unit tions of the related type bars I4. Rearward being pivotally connected at 4 with a platen, movement of the racks 23 to adjusted position check feed and motor unit 5. will, through engagement with suitable pinions 40- The accumulating and listing unit I consists of the wheels I3, set the appropriate type in po- 40 preferably of a complete adding and listing mechsition to be engaged by the check printing platen anism, being shown as corresponding to the dis- 21. closure of U. S. Patent 1,932,013, issued to Loring 'I'he bottoms of the extensions 26 are provided P. Crosxnan on October 24, 1933. with offset angularly bent lugs 23, forming the In accordance with this disclosure reclprocacontact portions of the extensions, and also serv- 45 tory movement of a shaft 6 (Figs. l and 2) will ing, by engagement with plates 29 to prevent rock a frame upon which are mounted a series rearward displacement of the type bars and exof dogs 1, so Athat said dogs tend to move out of tensions when contacted by the racks 23. The engagement with studs 3 of a series of setting plates 29 are preferably formed from a single 59 levers 9, allowing said levers to swing, under the strip of metal, slotted to permit the passage 50 influence of springs I0, until stops II, carried by of racks 23 and to provide guides for the extensaid levers engage the stems of depressed digit sions 26, as shown in Fig. 3. keys i2, which serve to limit the movement of 'I'he above-described arrangement, whereby the levers in accordance with the value to be set the accumulating and listing mechanism and the,A up. This serves to set type I3, carried by type type wheel mechanism is separately adjusted in 55 bars I4 secured to the levers 9, into correct printaccordance with the key setting, is of advantage ing position, spring hammers I1 being released in that the extra load of the type wheels and in well known manner to effect printing or. a racks is removed from the setting levers 9 of the suitable record tape. Suitable pinions of one or lister, avoiding undue strengthening of the 60- more accumulators :I5 are brought into mesh with springs I0. It is also of advantage because in- O0 (Fig. 1), with opposite arms of a bell crank leverl 32, fulcrumed at 33 upon the frame of unit 3. This bell crank lever has connection with a push rod 34, having pin and slot connection 35 with the frame of unit 5, and being provided with a transverse slot engaged by a roller 33, mounted upon a crank arm forming part of a driven clutch element 31, engageable with a driving element 33, mounted upon shaft 33, having direct gearing connection with the motor 43.

The clutch member 31 is provided with a spring pawl 4I, normally held disengaged from the teeth of member 33 by a latch 42 pivoted to the framing at 43, and movable to releasing position by means of a rod 44. The latch'42 is also provided with an insulated roller, acting to close the contacts of a circuit breaker 45, when the latch is released.

' Circuit breaker 45 is interposed in the motor circuit, and serves to start the motor when the clutch the motor until the clutch is released, which release will be effected at the end of a single cycle of the clutch elements, by contact of a pin 43 with a tooth 41 of latch 42, the latch being thereby forced back into position to be engaged by pawl 4I, in the rotation of the parts, further rotation serving to lift the engaged pawl out of contact with the teeth of member 33.

The clutch may be engaged by operation of a motor key 43 (Fig. '4) of the lister, or by the means hereinafter described. Key 43 upon depression rocks a latch 43, releasing a spring impelled lever 53, connected by a push rod 5| with one arm ofa bell crank lever 52 (Figs. 1 and 8, rod I being located directly-behind rod 3I in Fig. 1). 'I'he otherv arm of lever 52 is connected with the clutch releasing rod 44.

l Operation of the clutch by key 43 (as will be seen) does noteiect printing of the check, and the setting movements of the type wheels I3 will be idle. In other words, the key 43 is operated in connection with the adding and listing devices only, and will serve to illustrate how totals may lbe printed, by means of the well known total taking mechanism of the lister, and through the -tripping of latch 49, without effecting a printing operation of the check writing mechanism."1

The units I and 3 are designed to be raised by movement about pivot 4, in order to give'access to the type ribbon 51, (Fig. 3) etc. a latch 58 (Fig. 1) being provided to hold the units 3 and 5 in their normal operating positions. In order that the machine shall not be operated unies the units I and 3 are in correct position, a circuit breaker 53 (Fig. 4) is interposed in the motor circuit, one contact of this circuit breaker being located in unit I and the other contact in unit 5. Circuit breaker 53 may also be broken when the machine is locked against operation,

` in which case a bolt 33, is moved to the right, out

^ the wheels I3.

32, link 33 and dog 34, bringing the dog into the path of movement of the latch 43, so that key 43 will be locked and lever 53 cannot be released.

The platen 21 is mounted on a frame 53 (Pigs. 3 and 5), said frame being pivoted at 34 in the 5 framing of the unit 3. A cam 55, mounted on shaft 39, moves the platen from the position shown in Fig. 3 into contact with the type of 'Iime is given for this printing to be eifected before the type wheels are restored 10 to normal position, by means of an arcuate recess 56 (Fig. l) in the push rod 34, along the wall of which recess the crank roller 33 will have idle movement before entering the narrow portion of the slot, to rock the shaft counter-clockwise Io l5 its original position.

Means are provided whereby the insertion of a check to be printed within a guide-way 33 and into contact with feed rolls 33 (Figs.,5, 6 and 7) will serve to start the motor and feed the check :Q

has a crank extension, provided with an insulated '25 roller, and thereby to close the contact elements of a circuit breaker 33. This circuit breaker isv inserted in a wiring circuit hereinafter more fully described, serving when closed to start the motor andv thereby, through the gearing 33 (Fig. 6) 30.

shaft 13 and pinions 1I, driving the connected shafts 12, 13, 14,*(Fig. 5) on the latter of which the feed roll 33 is mounted.

This roll will advance the check along guide-way 35 until it comes in contact with the 35 end of a lever 15, having a universal ioint connection 13 (Figs. 5 and 6) with the frame of unit 3. Lever 15 is provided with an insulated roller which, when the lever is displaced horizontally by the fed check, will act to-close the contacts of Q Rod 33 being released will move to the right 5g under the influence of its spring 34, carrying therewith the rear end of a lever 35 intermediately fulcrumed upon the platen carrying frame 33, and carrying the forward end of said lever intouv posicion above the printing cam ss (ma. 3 and 55 5). In this position of the parts, the forward end of lever 35 will serve as a filler between cam 55 and frame 53, so that upon rotation of the cam with its shaft 33, the platen 21 will be forced up against the type.

Rod 33, moving under the Influence of its spring as above-described, will also contact with a bell crank lever 33 (Figs. 1 and 5) the opposite arm of said lever engaging a collar 31 on the clutch engaging rod 44, moving said rod rearward and .5 releasing the clutch pawl 4I. The amount now set on the keys I2 will be accumulated, listed and printed upon the check.

After the printing is ciiected, the check will be released from contact with the lever 15 and 70 will be fed out of the machine, this being accomplished as follows:

While the check is lying against lever 15, it is still in contact with the feed roll 33, this roll contacting with the check lightly and not acting u aonasv to displace the check so long as lever 'Il remains in its path. One edge of the check remains in engagement with an extension of the guide 65, and this has proved sufficient to prevent buckling of the check at this time. However, the printing being accomplished, a cam 99 (Fig. 6) mounted on shaft 39, will engage one end of a pawl I9, forcing the other horizontally bent end of said pawl against the lever 15, and thereby pulling the free end of said lever downwardly out of the path of movement of the check. Thereupon the check will feed forwardly into contact with feed roll 90, by which roll it will be fed out of the machine. l

After the printing of the check has been completed, the lever 85 will be returned to its normal position, with the forward end thereof out of register with the cam 55, by means of a restoring cam 9| (Figs. 3 and 5) mounted on shaft 39, said cam acting upon a lever 92 having an arm engaging a roller 93, of a restoring lever 94 (Fig. 8), a second roller mounted on lever 94 engaging a collar 95 secured to the rod 83, so that movement of the lever 92 by cam 9| will restore rod Il to normal position, whereupon latch 92 will be moved into the path of said rod by its spring 90 (Fig. l), this movement not being resisted by solenoid 'Il because of the breaking of the current through said solenoidyby the previous opening of contact 11.

The disengagement of clutch 4| and the breaking of the contact 45 at the end of the cycle of movement of shaft 39 has been previously described, this action completing the operation of the machine. I

'Ihe various controls operated bythe check in its passage through the machine may be traced in the wiring diagram (Fig. 9). In this diagram 91 indicates the contact points whereby electrical connection is made with the service line. Circuit breaker 59 remains closed as long as the machine stands in condition for operation, and thus forms a master switch. Manual adjustment of the check to be printed serving to close the circuit breaker 09, current will now through the motor 40, and the check feed devices will be op erated. 'I'he check being fed until it causes i closing of the' circuit breaker 11, current will be established through the solenoid 18,.which solenoid will eect the closing of the one cycle circuit breaker l5 and the engagement of the clutch. The printing will now be effected and the check fed out of the machine, during which f and accumulated.

To list without printing a check, an amount may be set on the keys I2 andlisted by depression of key I8, which key does not shift the lever 95 to check printing position. f

Totals, either of checks or other accumulated amounts, may be printed upon the list sheet by the well known mechanism for this purpose, which mechanism will involve an operation of the listing mechanism similar to that effected by key 49.

I claim: l. In a checkwriter having an electric motor,-

circuit devices including a circuit breaker adapted to connect said motor with a source of power, s

printing means, drive connections including a clutch between the printing means and the motor, and check feed devices driven directly ,from said motor; a guide-way, means adjacent said guide- 4way and operable by contact with a check in- 10 serted therein to close the circuit breaker and thereby start the feed, and means adjacent said guide-way and operable by contact lwith a fed check to engage the clutch and thereby eii'ect printing.

2. In a checkwriter having an electric motor, circuit devices including a circuit breaker adapted to connect said motor with a source of power, printing means, drive connections including a clutch between the printing means and the mo- 20 tor, and check feed devices driven directly from said motor; a guide-way, means adjacent said guide-way and operable by contact with a check inserted therein to close the circuit breaker and thereby start the feed, secondary circuit devices as for said` motor in parallel with the mst-named circuit devices and including a circuit breaker, and operating connections between the clutch and the last-named circuit breaker.

3. In a checkwriter having an electric motor, 30

circuit devices including a circuit breaker adapted to connect said motor with a source of power, printing means, drive connectionsincluding a one-cycle clutch between the printing means and the motor, and check feed devices driven directly uk from said motor; a guide-way, means adjacent said guide-way and operable by contact with a check inserted therein to close the circuit breaker and thereby start the feed, means including a solenoid operable to engage the clutch and theren by effect printing, means adjacent said guideway and operable by contact with a fed check to energize said solenoid, secondary circuit devices for said motor in parallel with the first-named circuit devices and including a circuit breaker, a and operating connections between the clutch and the last-named circuit breaker.

4. In a checkwriter having accumulating and listing mechanism, printing mechanism, a motor,

' drive connections including a clutch between the o ymotor and the accumulating and listing mechanism, and normally disabled operating means between the clutch and the printing mechanism;

a guide-way, means adjacent said guide-way and operable by contact with a check moving thereu in to render the lprinting operation means effective, and means operable by the check operatedy means to engage the clutch.

5. In a checkwriter having accumulating and listing mechanism, printingmechanism, a motor, drive connections including a clutch between the motor and the accumulating and listing mechanism, and normally disabled operating means between the clutch and the printing mechanism;

a guide-way, normally restrained spring actuated means for rendering the printing operation means eii'ective, means adjacent said guide-way and operable by contact with a check moving therein to release the spring actuated means, and means operable by the spring actuated means to .m engage the clutch.

EDGAR ELLSWORTH PHINNEY. 

